What we've been reading

Jan 24, 2018

Mark Butler: factions are destroying Labor's capacity to campaign

"Factional deals to determine preselections are “backroom buffoonery” that is holding the Labor party back, the outgoing party president, Mark Butler, has said... [he also] called for democratic reforms to allow party members to vote for important positions including state leaders, Senate candidates and vacancies." Read more from The Guardian.

Sep 17, 2017

How NZ's Jacinda Ardern vaulted her party from no-hopers to just-maybe winners

For the first time in close to a decade, Labour stands a chance to regain office in New Zealand. The party's new leader, Jacinda Arden, has been a central figure in this change of fortune. Here's her recent interview with Fairfax.

Sep 13, 2017

Unity goes west as Labor factions split over preselection for plum heartland seats

Much rumbling about candidates in Melbourne's West. All underlines the need for more open ALP preselection processes. The Age 12 Sept.